Who says perfumes are women’s accessories? Every time I hang out on Reddit subs or Facebook groups of perfumes in India, I find them mostly populated by Indian men.
This list and most insights stem from my immersion and my hanging out in these communities online. Each perfume mentioned here is not necessarily a recommendation, but rather what Indian men like to wear and what is popular among them.
Also, no I have not tried them all myself. If you want to buy them, you have to do your research.
- Versace Eros Eau De Parfum
I see Versace Eros everywhere in the frag community, I kid you not! I don’t mean in an annoying way, but Indian men do seem to be in love with this perfume. It intrigues me as to what this perfume offers after all. One day I might order a decant myself too, or maybe I will love it enough to wear it myself.
One of the top reasons why Versace Eros is a loved fragrance in the fraghead community is its performance. Let’s face it, we all adore perfumes, and what we desire most is longevity and excellent projection, and words have it that Versace Eros delivers just that.
Honestly, I don’t think this purchase can be regretful for anyone.
- Aventus by Creed
Incredibly expensive, this perfume is a dear to Indian men in the perfume community.
As pricey as it might be, you cannot stop people from buying or testing it even with 5-30ml decants because IT IS THAT GOOD! A huge compliment-getter, Aventus by Creed is also the best-selling perfume from the House of Creed and is considered the scent for men.
Some even think Creed Aventus is the very symbol of status and prestige(I mean I understand why!), and for some, it’s a personality(I don’t understand why!).
But you will also find men complaining about how this perfume has changed its charisma over the years with reformulation and new batches, and some others straight-up not finding anything magical about the scent which their peers swear by.
Fun fact: Creed Aventus is the most cloned perfume ever. And if that is not a testament to its widespread popularity and influence, I don’t know what is!
I haven’t tried Creed myself, but hopefully I will. Wear it or not, I believe some fragrances need to be introduced to the nose, at least once in a lifetime.
- Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian is yet another popular fragrance in the collection of Indian fragheads that they love to brag about. And why not? It is a well-blended and well-designed perfume that you hardly see in everyday designer perfumes.
My first opinion of Baccarat Rouge 540 was that it smells like dried Rasgulla. And of course, considering its price point, there’s more complexity to it beyond just resembling the sweetness of this Indian dessert.
Rouge 540 is also a scent that some people love a lot, and some people find it confusing as to why it is so hyped.
Personally, I do understand the hype. While it’s not a scent I would wear regularly, I appreciate its unique composition and I don’t mind people wearing it or wearing it myself. It is definitely not a scent that is linear or commonly found in other scents – but commonly found in Indian men’s wardrobes for sure.
Baccarat Rouge 540 is another heavily cloned fragrance, and one commonly known one is Cloud by Ariana Grande. I have read so many stories over and over again about someone who is wearing Rouge 540 and gets asked if they are wearing Cloud and vice versa.
- Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani
Acqua di Gio doesn’t disappoint. It has chosen its name rightly because it is indeed an aquatic scent, and would you just look at those middle notes?
Sea Notes, Jasmine, Calone, Peach, Rosemary, Freesia, Hiacynth, Cyclamen, Coriander, Violet, Nutmeg, Rose, Mignonette.
That’s a lot of notes and it makes me want to try out Acqua di Gio once. Having said that, while people in the US may find this a very common fragrance, you are still safe to add to your collection because sometimes, a scent is not about whether you are the only one who smells like it, but about having a classic in your wardrobe, and rock it when in mood.
- Light Blue pour Homme by Dolce&Gabbana
It’s too soon to say it perhaps, but I think Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana is timeless.
India can have really hot weather, and if you are a fragrance newbie, let me tell you that Dolce & Gabbana do their summer scent well. I don’t see any other perfume, old or new, that is going to take the place of Light Blue anytime soon. It is unrivalled among the summer fragrances.
Light Blue Pour Homme is a must in any man’s wardrobe, for the merciless summer where ‘What scent will I wear today?’ might make you irritate you. But with Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, you can be relaxed about the fact that when in doubt, wear black Light Blue.
I think it can definitely be a go-to summer scent for everyone. And while it means you have the risk of running into someone smelling the same, this won’t be any offensive because it is not a signature scent that you hide from others.
If you are thinking about owning it, go for it. This in your collection will never hurt you.
- Cool Water by Davidoff
Cool Water by Davidoff is another popular addition to men’s fragrance collection, regardless of their age. From a teenager to a middle-aged office-going employee, this can be a fragrance for regular wearing.
Aquatic and fresh, Cool Water by Davidoff is a very affordable fragrance, especially compared to other designer fragrances (not counting Nautica Voyage). This fragrance has been around for a while, so while it’s a classic, it may not add a unique touch to your collection. But that doesn’t stop Indian men from having it in their collection along with their other expensive designers.
Especially if you are just starting your fragrance journey, this is a good starting point. Many men have embraced it, you cannot go wrong unless you are known for unique tastes or have developed an advanced olfactory palate and cannot appreciate simple fragrances anymore.
- Club de Nuit Intense Man by Armaf
Among the many great dupes and efforts of companies trying to clone Creed Aventus, Armaf does it best. The perfume industry knows it too.
A community that loves Creed Aventus, but has to pay a hefty sum, is a community that hails Armaf Club De Nuit Intense because it’s the closest dupe to Creed Aventus.
It’s very pocket-friendly, and while this dupe doesn’t mirror Creed Aventus exactly, it does get you compliments as Creed Aventus will get you. But in any case, Indian men love Armaf CDNI and I believe most of them have this in their collection.
- Nautica Voyage by Nautica
This is a cheap summer fragrance. Read cheap = affordable.
Years back when I was watching this fragrance reviewer on YouTube called Jeremy, who has a brand called Jeremy Fragrance, I found him talking very highly about it. But that’s just not it.
I have also found that Nautica Voyage by Nautica has nearly no haters at all. I don’t remember anyone saying Nautica Voyage is so cheap, it’s so over-hyped, etc. I think it really is a great fragrance, and considering it is sold at such a low price, people just have no room to complain.
Even on Myntra, it is among the most highly rated and popular fragrances.
- Hawas for Him by Rasasi
Hawas cannot be your go-to fragrance for all occasions, the people who own it have said it.
Hawas is not a perfume for every season either and is only known for its heavy performance in the summer, which means if you’re buying this, it cannot be the only scent in your wardrobe.
As a Middle Eastern perfume, Hawas is, no doubt, a potent, and long-projecting perfume. Over the months of reading Hawas’ appreciation posts over the internet, I have come to the conclusion that it can be a little too intense for some, even headache-inducing, but also a great perfume when you give it time.
- Whiskey Smoke by Beardo
It’s interesting how as designer fragrances, and even niche and indie fragrances are becoming more and more accessible in India through online stores, Indian fragrance brands are finding their own place well among the imported perfumes.
Whiskey Smoke by Beardo is an Indian fragrance, and ..people are buying it all the time. They are also wearing it, and some are loving it enough to wear it regularly. But I will not lie, I have found people who disliked it in general and don’t see the hype around it.
I have reasons to believe that the people who dislike this perfume believe that they don’t do so on the basis that fragrance is subjective, but rather that it is objectively cheap-smelling fragrance. But one thing is for sure: it’s fast gaining traction.
- Sauvage by Dior
Sauvage by Dior is another true designer mass-market fragrance. There’s nothing polarising about Sauvage. It’s a total compliment-getter and crowd-pleaser. Just another addition to many Indian men in the frag community but not men in general.
So you see, if you are not a frag head, and don’t hang around with people that own perfume collections, this addition will be a smart move for you. This is in the sense that you will not smell like everyone else even though you are wearing this very popular fragrance.
If you can afford it, if you want a well-known fragrance, that has good reviews or where people think you have good taste, then go for Sauvage by Dior.
- Khamrah by Lattafa Perfumes
Khamrah is said to be a dupe of Kilian’s Angel Share, and a quick look at the accords on Fragrantica makes me believe that it is indeed a dupe. Khamrah is a proud addition to many Indian men’s collections, although note that this perfume can be for everyone.
While I don’t have experience with Lattafa Perfumes, I am planning to add some of them to my own collection.
But I know one thing for sure, even though Lattafa Perfumes are best known for their dupes, I believe the frag community’s love for this Middle-Eastern house extends beyond being mere imitations. Also, have you seen the packaging of Lataffa perfumes? Beautiful packaging as such makes me want to own those perfumes, and not because they are dupes.
I find myself drawn to a particular Lattafa Perfume already, and I believe I wouldn’t even need the original once it joins my collection.
- Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue by Versace
I have no choice but to mention yet another aquatic and fresh scent on this list. But this is what the men are popularly embracing, right?
Dylan Blue can be your scent for all occasions because it is not considered super strong or intense.
If you are looking for a signature scent, maybe you can consider this one. This is also one of the top fragrances you’ll find in an Indian men’s collection, and I think it’s because it’s easy to wear, and has no risk of offending anyone with this fragrance.
Takeaway
I’d be very wrong if I said that men don’t have many profiles to choose from when it comes to perfumes. Niche perfumes, for example, bring so many nuances and incredible unique scents which we all can wear.
But having said that, writing this list made me realise an unmistakable trend – there are too many aquatic, marine, citrusy and fresh spicy things going on. I see that they are often drawn to fresh aquatic vibes. So if you are ever wondering what kind of fragrances an average Indian man likes to wear, I’d say something along the lines of fresh and aquatic.
